A Cambridge fancy dress shop has apologised for selling a Halloween costume of a “psychotic nympho”.

In the wake of the outcry over Asda and Tesco’s “psycho ward” costumes last month, the News discovered a Cambridge retailer, Party Mania, selling the outfit on its website as part of its “Halloween Hell’s Asylum” collection.

When the News visited Party Mania’s Cambridge store on Burleigh Street, a straightjacket costume was also found among its Halloween stock.

Sarah Hughes, chief executive officer for Mind in Cambridgeshire, said: “We are profoundly disappointed that Party Mania has continued to sell their inappropriate party wear that mocks people who use mental health services. There has been much in the press recently about this, both Asda and Tesco having conceded that their behaviour was unacceptable and removed their stock.

“We are saddened to hear that despite this public outcry Party Mania has chosen to ignore this very serious discriminatory behaviour and continue to portray people with mental health problems in a negative light.

“It is clear that a costume mocking a cancer sufferer or someone with a brain injury would be unacceptable and yet the public mockery of mental illness is still seen as part of everyday life.”

The manager at the Cambridge store told the News the suppliers had put the offending costume on the website without their knowledge, and promised it would be removed.

She added: “I do apologise to any member of the public. We wouldn’t do anything to offend anyone.”

The company also has stores in Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds.

Last month both Tesco and Asda were forced to withdraw Halloween costumes after they were criticised for stigmatising people with mental health problems.